Heart Disease Is Highly Preventable

What do high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes/prediabetes, and being overweight have in common?

More than half of American adults have one or more of these health conditions. Having just one of them increases your risk for cardiovascular disease; if you have more than one (or your condition is severe), your risk will be higher.

High blood pressure (or “hypertension”)

• Affects 1 in 3 American adults. Anything over 120/80 makes the heart work hard, damages arteries and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and blindness.

Type 2 diabetes/prediabetes

• Half of U.S. adults have type 2 diabetes and are nearly twice as likely to have heart disease or stroke as adults without diabetes. High blood glucose from diabetes can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart and blood vessels.

Being overweight or obese

• 71% of U.S. adults are overweight. Extra weight puts stress on the heart, increases the risk of narrowed coronary arteries, affects heart rhythm, and raises blood pressure.

The good news is that you can significantly lower your risk of heart disease by adopting a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, maintaining normal blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, and avoiding smoking.

Start with an annual wellness checkup, where you can talk to your doctor about your heart health and how to reduce your risks. Your Health Plan pays 100% of the allowed amount for an annual checkup and USPSTF recommended preventive services.